She wasn’t sure how she was going to pitch the next part to her father. Denying DuPont’s request to drill in Hemlock Park would mean a substantial loss to his campaign budget, and she would have to figure out a way to supplement that before she dared to bring it up. But she was beyond emotionally drained after the day she’d had. The DuPonts and their oil company were two problems she would have to square up to on another day.
They pulled into the circular drive, and Jillian looked up at the dozens of brightly illuminated windows and wondered for the first time how much electricity was used to keep the front of their house lit like a national monument. The mansion was five stories high, with every wing bearing a unique arrangement of towers and gables. Congressman James Lox loved to tell the story of the day he had proposed to his wife, how he promised her a castle by the sea, and when he saw this place, he knew it was meant for the love of his life.
The grounds of the Lox Mansion were maintained by a twenty-four-hour staff of housekeepers, cooks, and landscapers. Granted, this was a lavish home, even for a New York Congressman, but he did have several non-profits that he was legally entitled to take a salary from. Some shrewd investment and accounting strategies made sure the Lox family standard of living was always secure.
“Are you hungry, dear?” Her mother headed toward the kitchen. “Mommy needs a nightcap.”
“I was just going to take a bath and turn in early if that’s okay.” Jillian’s room was in a separate wing of the house that had a view of both the courtyard and the beach.
“I’ll have Milly bring you a salad.” Mrs. Lox made a dismissive gesture. “She can run into town tomorrow and get the replacement for your phone.”
“Thanks.” Jillian pressed her lips together, heading through the foyer that led to the courtyard.
Maggie supervised all the other housekeepers. She had worked there for the last three years, which was a record. Most people would have quit or been fired within a year, but Maggie was a tough old broad. She had thick skin but always managed to stay kind. Not that it stopped Mrs. Lox from getting her name wrong about half the time.
Can I blame her? Jillian watched her mother disappear into the archway, wondering how many Xanax it took to get her through today. The woman only went into social mode when it was time for pictures.
Yes… Yes, I can blame her. Being anxious doesn’t give you the right to be a self-absorbed asshole. Even if you choose to medicate yourself halfway into a coma, you should at least know the name of the person who cleans up your vomit the next morning.
Jillian stepped out into the courtyard and smelled the freshly cut grass and ocean breeze. A few hundred meters beyond the tall, sturdy brick wall that surrounded the grounds was a beautiful white sandy beach. The garden in this courtyard used to be where she would come to feel closer to nature. Looking up at the towering shade trees and the perfectly symmetrical hedges, she shook her head. Her cheeks burned with shame for how ignorant she had been all her life. Following the cobblestone path, she opened the door that led past the indoor heated pool.
The vaulted ceiling above the pool and lounge area meant that there were only two floors above it. Through the stone archway on the other side of the pool was a corridor. That was where Jillian would find the staircase leading to her bedroom. There was a time when she lived in the main body of the house, but she got sick of hearing her parents fighting or fucking, and there was hardly ever a time when she was younger that it wasn’t one or the other.
Granted, there had been less drama since he had started cheating on her a couple of years ago. But it still felt better to have this small distance between her and her parents. The house was big enough that they could go days without seeing one another unless they made a specific effort to do so. Sure, it was a bit of a walk to get from her room back to the foyer, but it was still the best view in the house.
Her bed faced the patio doors that led to her balcony, where she used to go out every evening and watch the tide come in. Looking out over the white dunes scattered with patches of tall grass that swayed with every breeze, she closed her eyes, wishing she could have the best of both worlds. As dysfunctional as her family was, this place had been the only home she’d ever known, and saying goodbye to it wouldn’t be easy.
Turning on the tap in her jacuzzi tub, she stripped down and opened her essential oils. The smell of tea tree brought her back to bathing in the creek. She sighed at her naked reflection, wishing that she had the courage to strip down whenever and wherever like Conner did. Stepping into the warm water, she wondered if this might be the last time she would have the chance to enjoy hot water for a while.
Jillian indulged in all the soaps and shampoos she’d missed over the past week, taking the time to catch up on shaving before laying back to relax. She wrung the water out her warm washcloth, placing it over her eyes as she pictured sitting out on the beach on that big heavy quilt with all the boys as they counted the lights from the fishing boats dotting the horizon.
“Ugh.” Jillian winced as a heady sensation came over her.
Did I run the water
